Short Summary

Local hero Niki Lauda is a hot favourite to win the 1975 Austrian Formula One Grand Prix to be held at Zeltweg on Sunday (17 August).

Description

Local hero Niki Lauda is a hot favourite to win the 1975 Austrian Formula One Grand Prix to be held at Zeltweg on Sunday (17 August).

Lauda's Ferrari, already successful on four Grand Prix this year, clocked the fastest practice time for the race,, setting a lap record of 1 minute 34.85 seconds, in the first practice session on Friday (15 August).

Britain's James Hunt, in a Hesketh, was second fastest with a time of I minute 34.97 seconds, also inside the old lap record.

Sweden's Ronnie Patersen and brazil's Wilson Fittipaldi both had crashes during the session. Petersen was uninjured, but Wilson Fittipaldi was taken to hospital suffering from shock, a broken had and bruises.

Victory in the Austrian Grand Prix, on his home track, would almost certainly clinch this year's World Driving Championship for lauda.

He currently heads the drivers' table with 51 points ... 17 points ahead of his nearest rival Carlos Reutemann, who is a point clear of last year's champion Emerson Fittipaldi.